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Testimonials - Yay or Nay?

by wordsandthebees
11 replies
OK - I know many of you won't even click on a thread like that for fear that you'll be met with some dumb post on 'should I use testimonials on my web page'.

But bear with me!

I know that testimonials are one of the best marketing tools available.
I know that the voice of a happy customer is way louder than your own voice.
I know that people give much more credibility to someone who has used your service than someone who hasn't.
Hell, I even drew up my feedback requests to specifically address the problem of all those other people out there who I wanted to use my service.

Testimonials are invaluable - I get it!

The problem:
I used to display my clients with pride all over my web page and social media - I'd share posts advertising their services and would splash their satisfied quotes all over my marketing.

Until somebody set up in competition with me (which of course, everyone's entitled to do) and while a bit of competition has never phased me; this business who shall remain nameless, went onto my website and used my testimonial page as a free directory to all of my clients and every local business that used my service.

And they called them - one by one I started to get messages through saying that they'd received a phone call advertising X at a cheaper rate. Advised they were the cheapest in the local area (ggrr!) and could they provide some work free of charge to see if they could work together!!!!

Luckily, I have a great relationship with 100% of my clients and each and every one told me about it and obviously respectfully declined BUT testimonials leave you open to this really big risk, no?

I've since removed all of my clients details from my website and social media siting 'client confidentiality' but to be honest the whole experience unnerved me.

I don't know how to now tell people that I have clients who are extremely impressed with the quality of my work, without putting myself at risk that someone will do this again. I thought about leaving the quotes on there but hiding the business name, but I think this almost looks as if the reviews could be made up.

Any opinions on this dilemma would be much appreciated!!
#nay #testimonials #yay
  • Profile picture of the author animal44
    When we were offering SEO there were stories going around that some unscrupulous people were using negative SEO against such testimonial lists and then contacting those people claiming that the original SEO business was building poor quality links and offering to remove them for a fee. We kept our clients to ourselves...

    I think there's a lack of trust in online testimonials anyway...

    Focus on getting referrals. They're more personal and you don't have to display them anywhere. Your competitors won't ever know who they are...

    Reward referrals with something valuable. Make the reward personal, something they have an interest and passion for... Not some generic gift that everyone gives out.
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    • Profile picture of the author wordsandthebees
      Originally Posted by animal44 View Post


      Reward referrals with something valuable. Make the reward personal, something they have an interest and passion for... Not some generic gift that everyone gives out.
      That's another point I was going to make - when I look around at small business websites I see a lot of people who I know are friends all writing testimonials for each other's sites. It's nice, I just don't know if testimonials are as valuable in that respect too.
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  • Profile picture of the author EugeneWHZ
    Word of mouth works much better then testimonials. Just do your best and you will see that your clients will drive you new clients.
    Most of new clients might consider testimonials as fake ones.
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  • Profile picture of the author animal44
    Referrals rarely come automatically. You need to give your clients a reason to give referrals. What's in it for them...?
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  • Profile picture of the author TeaCozy
    If your clients love what you do they are going to think someone calling them out of the blue and pitching their wares is weird.

    I would stand by your offering and not be bothered by it.

    When I am pitching new business having the business testimonials or at least the logos on my website works really well and lets be honest, if you only have the business on there and not the contact name or number (which you never would) then they are never going to get past the receptionist or gate keeper anyway.

    Competition sucks but at the same time at least you have the confidence that you're doing something that people want to copy.

    There is enough work out there and I wouldn't waste time being phased by people that do this, it's completely wasted energy anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    Do you really think your competitor would not have contacted them had you not had them listed on your site?



    Originally Posted by wordsandthebees View Post

    OK - I know many of you won't even click on a thread like that for fear that you'll be met with some dumb post on 'should I use testimonials on my web page'.

    But bear with me!

    I know that testimonials are one of the best marketing tools available.
    I know that the voice of a happy customer is way louder than your own voice.
    I know that people give much more credibility to someone who has used your service than someone who hasn't.
    Hell, I even drew up my feedback requests to specifically address the problem of all those other people out there who I wanted to use my service.

    Testimonials are invaluable - I get it!

    The problem:
    I used to display my clients with pride all over my web page and social media - I'd share posts advertising their services and would splash their satisfied quotes all over my marketing.

    Until somebody set up in competition with me (which of course, everyone's entitled to do) and while a bit of competition has never phased me; this business who shall remain nameless, went onto my website and used my testimonial page as a free directory to all of my clients and every local business that used my service.

    And they called them - one by one I started to get messages through saying that they'd received a phone call advertising X at a cheaper rate. Advised they were the cheapest in the local area (ggrr!) and could they provide some work free of charge to see if they could work together!!!!

    Luckily, I have a great relationship with 100% of my clients and each and every one told me about it and obviously respectfully declined BUT testimonials leave you open to this really big risk, no?

    I've since removed all of my clients details from my website and social media siting 'client confidentiality' but to be honest the whole experience unnerved me.

    I don't know how to now tell people that I have clients who are extremely impressed with the quality of my work, without putting myself at risk that someone will do this again. I thought about leaving the quotes on there but hiding the business name, but I think this almost looks as if the reviews could be made up.

    Any opinions on this dilemma would be much appreciated!!
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    • Profile picture of the author wordsandthebees
      Originally Posted by DABK View Post

      Do you really think your competitor would not have contacted them had you not had them listed on your site?
      Obviously I can't say for sure but because not every company utilises the services that my company offers, it's a good place for someone to start. He didn't have to sell the service, just the fact that his company could do it better.
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      • Profile picture of the author DABK
        It's called marketing. You located a hungry crowd. One way or another, your competitor would have put together a list of likely buyers, including the ones on your list.

        Do the same, find crowds hungry for what you sell (even using your competitor's approach), then contact them and offer them your services.

        It is REALLY really smart to try to sell to people who've proven to be buyers. It's REALLY not a great idea to try to convince random people that they need or should want what you sell.

        Why make things harder than they need to be?

        Give your competitor a $50 gift card for showing you a great way of finding likely buyers.

        Originally Posted by wordsandthebees View Post

        Obviously I can't say for sure but because not every company utilises the services that my company offers, it's a good place for someone to start. He didn't have to sell the service, just the fact that his company could do it better.
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Testimonials have to have a purpose.
    Having 40 people say how great you are isn't nearly as convincing as one person talking about a problem that you solved...that the prospect is also having.

    Testimonials are valuable if;
    They show a problem the reader is having.
    The reader can identify with the testimonial writer.
    The testimonial is from someone the reader looks up to and trusts.

    In fact, in great sales letters, the testimonials are arranged so that they cover most buying objections, and talk about common problems that the supplier solved.


    And ...that's why I write my client's testimonials, send them to the person that was going to give me a testimonial, and have them sign it.

    So, it really is from them, but written to have the desired effect.

    If I create a testimonial video, I suggest what they should say.

    About having a competitor call your testimonial list?

    I've done it. I've gone to various speaker's websites, and copied the names of their testimonial list. But not to compete...

    These names are valuable because;
    I know they hold events I'd be interested in speaking at.
    I know they hired paid speakers in my niche, and in my fee range.

    And I never mention the speaker that listed their name. Why would I? I'm not competing with them, and don't know them. I say I found out they had an event that I may be interested in attending as a speaker.


    I suspect that the guy competing with you? He's probably the only one you'll ever get.
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  • Profile picture of the author swilliams09
    Everyone tries to steal each other's clients in local marketing. I work in TV and we often produce commercials for the same clients as other stations. Sales people from other stations will watch us and write down a list of clients who advertise with us and call on them. Our sales people do the same thing to them. It's the nature of the beast. What ends up happening? The client decides based on price/service/relationships. The main thing is the client decides. I mean we could NOT run commercials then we'd never have to worry about anyone stealing our clients, because we wouldn't have any. It's par for the course.
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  • Profile picture of the author atrbiz
    I'm in the process of going on-site and recording a few client testimonials for my new landing pages. I'm not a fan of text based testimonials, with videos your prospects are more likely to connect with you.
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